Asylum

Άσυλο, μετανάστευση και σύνορα

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Highlights

  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    1
    August
    2024

    ​Six points for workplace inspectors – EU law safeguards for non-EU workers ​

    Migrant workers are particularly at risk of labour exploitation. Workplace inspectors play a role in protecting non-EU workers' rights. This report guides inspectors to identify abuse and protect migrant workers. In autumn 2024, FRA will publish a manual with extensive resources to support workplace inspectors.
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  • Report / Paper / Summary
    30
    July
    2024

    Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders

    Fundamental rights violations on the EU’s land and sea borders often go unreported. Investigations into these violations need to be more effective. This report gathers examples of alleged rights violations of migrants and refugees between 2020 and 2023. It sets out 10 steps to promote prompt and effective national investigations into incidents of ill-treatment at borders.
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  • Periodic updates / Series
    1
    July
    2024

    Search and rescue operations and fundamental rights - June 2024 update

    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights regularly collects data on the operations of NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports. This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings initiated by European Union (EU) Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against individual crew members. The latest update covers the period from 2018 up until the end of May 2024.
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  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    17
    December
    2020

    Εγχειρίδιο σχετικά με την ευρωπαϊκή νομοθεσία σε θέματα ασύλου, συνόρων και μετανάστευσης - Έκδοση 2020

    Η Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου και το δίκαιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένω- σης παρέχουν ένα όλο και πιο σημαντικό πλαίσιο για την προστασία των δικαιωμάτων των αλλοδαπών. Η νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης σχετικά με το άσυλο, τα σύνορα και τη μετανάστευση εξελίσσεται με ταχείς ρυθμούς. Υπάρχει ένα εντυπωσιακό σώμα νομολογίας του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων που αφορά ειδικό- τερα τα άρθρα 3, 5, 8 και 13 της ΕΣΔΑ. Το Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης καλείται όλο και περισσότερο να αποφανθεί σχετικά με την ερμηνεία των διατάξεων του δικαίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης στον τομέα αυτό. Η τρίτη έκδοση του παρόντος εγχειριδίου, που επικαιροποιήθηκε έως τον Ιούλιο του 2020, παρουσιάζει την εν λόγω νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και το σώμα της νομολογίας των δύο ευρωπαϊκών δικαστηρίων με εύχρηστο τρόπο. Απευθύνεται σε επαγγελματίες του νομικού κλάδου, δικαστές, εισαγ- γελείς, υπαλλήλους στον τομέα της μετανάστευσης και μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις, στα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ και του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης.
Προϊοντα
Road to post covid
Fundamental Rights Report
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
Support for human rights systems and defenders
10
June
2021

Fundamental Rights Report 2021

FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report 2021 reviews major developments in the field in 2020, identifying both achievements and areas of concern. It also presents FRA’s opinions on these developments, including a synopsis of the evidence supporting these opinions. This year’s focus chapter explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fundamental rights. The remaining chapters cover: the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; equality and non-discrimination; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance; Roma equality and inclusion; asylum, borders and migration; information society, privacy and data protection; rights of the child; access to justice; and the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Read press release
Fundamental Rights Report
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
10
June
2021

The coronavirus pandemic and fundamental rights: A year in review

This focus looks at COVID-19’s impact on fundamental rights. It underscores that a human rights-based approach to tackling the pandemic requires balanced measures that are based on law, necessary, temporary and proportional. It also requires addressing the pandemic’s socio-economic impact, protecting the vulnerable and fighting racism.
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FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty on Samos, Greece, April 2021
Video
Asylum, migration and borders

Committing to human rights at the Samos migration centre

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty visited the island of Samos, Greece, in April 2021 to get a sense of the reception facilities there. In this video, he acknowledges the efforts being made to improve facilities. He offers the Agency’s continued commitment to support these supports. As an example, he refers to FRA’s guidance on respecting fundamental rights at such facilities that could benefit both migrants and locals.
View of a reception centre in the Canary Islands
Video
Asylum, migration and borders
Borders and information systems

Video blog Michael O'Flaherty: Protecting migrants’ human rights together

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty, in his latest vlog, reflects on the migration situation at the EU’s external borders. He highlights the need for sustained joined-up efforts from all relevant bodies, including civil society, to protect the wellbeing and human rights of migrants. He underlines the importance of working with local communities as we receive migrants into our communities. He also points to room for improvement is our treatment of unaccompanied children.
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
26
March
2021

Initial-reception facilities at external borders: fundamental rights issues to consider

This note outlines how to help ensure a dignified stay for third-country nationals who are apprehended or intercepted at external borders. Specifically, FRA identifies twelve points for protection-sensitive and fundamental rights-compliant planning and design of initial-reception facilities at such borders. These are based on the agency’s work at external borders, including data collection and research activities.
FRA work in the 'hotpsots'
Download FRA Opinions on hotspots
FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty visited the Canary Islands in March 2021
Video
Asylum, migration and borders

FRA Director on the migration situation in the Canary Islands

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty visited the Canary Islands in March 2021 to get a sense of the migration situation there. He highlights the need to support the Canary Islands in relocating unaccompanied children and providing clear procedures on asylum applications.
Two children in a refugee camp in Idomeni, Greece
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
25
February
2021

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Bulletin 1 - 2021

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 October and 31 December 2020.
Access all quarterly updates
Access all updates
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Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
18
December
2020

December 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them

In 2020 (until 15 December), the International Organization for Migration estimated that about 1,054 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of almost three people per day. In the past years, a significant number of migrants in distress at sea have been rescued by civil society vessels deployed with a humanitarian mandate to reduce fatalities and bring rescued migrants to safety. Since 2018, however, national authorities initiated some 50 administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels, also seizing the latter. In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues or the inability to meet maritime safety-related and other technical requirements.
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Άσυλο, μετανάστευση και σύνορα
17
December
2020

Εγχειρίδιο σχετικά με την ευρωπαϊκή νομοθεσία σε θέματα ασύλου, συνόρων και μετανάστευσης - Έκδοση 2020

Η Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου και το δίκαιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένω- σης παρέχουν ένα όλο και πιο σημαντικό πλαίσιο για την προστασία των δικαιωμάτων των αλλοδαπών. Η νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης σχετικά με το άσυλο, τα σύνορα και τη μετανάστευση εξελίσσεται με ταχείς ρυθμούς. Υπάρχει ένα εντυπωσιακό σώμα νομολογίας του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων που αφορά ειδικό- τερα τα άρθρα 3, 5, 8 και 13 της ΕΣΔΑ. Το Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης καλείται όλο και περισσότερο να αποφανθεί σχετικά με την ερμηνεία των διατάξεων του δικαίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης στον τομέα αυτό. Η τρίτη έκδοση του παρόντος εγχειριδίου, που επικαιροποιήθηκε έως τον Ιούλιο του 2020, παρουσιάζει την εν λόγω νομοθεσία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και το σώμα της νομολογίας των δύο ευρωπαϊκών δικαστηρίων με εύχρηστο τρόπο. Απευθύνεται σε επαγγελματίες του νομικού κλάδου, δικαστές, εισαγ- γελείς, υπαλλήλους στον τομέα της μετανάστευσης και μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις, στα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ και του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης.
Periodic updates / Series
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
8
December
2020

Migration: Fundamental rights issues at land borders

This report looks at fundamental rights compliance at the European Union (EU)’s external land borders, including rivers and lakes. On 30 January 2020, the European Parliament requested the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) to prepare a report on these borders. It noted that the report should focus on the correct application of the safeguards in the European asylum acquis and the provisions of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399).
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
6
November
2020

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Quarterly bulletin 4 - 2020

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 July and 30 September 2020.
Access all quarterly updates
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Access all updates
Country sheets
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
Child protection
Legal migration and integration
20
October
2020

Integrating young refugees in the EU - Country information

The EU Fundamental Rights Agency published in 2019 its report on the ‘Integration of young refugees in the EU’. The report explored the challenges of young people who fled armed conflict or persecution and arrived in the EU in 2015 and 2016. The report is based on 426 interviews with experts working in the area of asylum and integration, as well as 163 interviews with young people, aged 16 to 24, conducted between October 2017 and June 2018 in 15 regions and cities located in six Member States: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Sweden. The links on this page provide a summary of the information collected during this period for each country about unaccompanied children turning 18 and the change in people’s legal status once international protection is granted. These two issues had at the time been identified as moments requiring sufficient, consistent and systematic support, particularly from lawyers, social workers and guardians, to ensure successful integration.
Video
Asylum, migration and borders

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty visits Moria migration facility

This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded on 15 October 2020 at the Moria migration facility that was destroyed by fire in September 2020.
Video
Asylum, migration and borders

FRA Director Michael O'Flaherty visits temporary camp at Mavrovouni, Lesbos

This video statement by FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty was recorded on 14 October 2020 at the temporary facility at Mavrovouni. This temporary camp was built to re-house people after the fire at the Moria migration facility on the island of Lesbos, in Greece.
mature woman with grey hair in hospital patient gown and mask infected by COVID-19
Periodic updates / Series
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Asylum, migration and borders
Data protection, privacy and new technologies
Equality, non-discrimination and racism
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
29
July
2020

Coronavirus pandemic in the EU - Fundamental Rights Implications - Bulletin 4

As we enter the second half of 2020, the constraints on our daily lives brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic have become a firm reality. New local lockdowns and the reintroduction of restrictive measures prompted by fresh outbreaks of the virus are a stark reminder that COVID-19 continues to shape our lives – and our enjoyment of fundamental rights – in profound ways. There is compelling evidence of how the pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges in our societies. This FRA Bulletin outlines some of the measures EU Member States adopted to safely reopen their societies and economies while continuing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It highlights the impact these measures may have on civil, political and socioeconomic rights.
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Download country research
Download all bulletins
CVID-19 Mouth swab
Periodic updates / Series
Access to asylum
Asylum, migration and borders
27
July
2020

Migration: Key fundamental rights concerns - Quarterly bulletin 3 - 2020

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on asylum and migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 April and 30 June 2020.
Access all quarterly updates
Read news item
Access all updates
White line with word border below
Handbook / Guide / Manual
Σύνορα και συστήματα πληροφοριών
Άσυλο, μετανάστευση και σύνορα
24
July
2020

Έλεγχοι συνόρων και θεμελιώδη δικαιώματα στα εξωτερικά χερσαία σύνορα

Η παρούσα καθοδήγηση απευθύνεται στο προσωπικό διαχείρισης των συνόρων των κρατών μελών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (ΕΕ) που εργάζεται στο επιχειρησιακό επίπεδο. Αποσκοπεί στο να τους βοηθήσει να εφαρμόζουν, στο πλαίσιο της καθημερινής άσκησης των καθηκόντων τους, τις εγγυήσεις των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων του κώδικα συνόρων του Σένγκεν [κανονισμός (ΕΕ) αριθ. 2016/399] και του συναφούς δικαίου της ΕΕ.
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MDX Dataset
Asylum, migration and borders
Irregular migration, return and immigration detention
Justice, victims’ rights and judicial cooperation
26 September 2017

Forced return monitoring systems – State of play in EU Member States

The EU Return Directive introduced an important fundamental rights safeguard for third-country nationals ordered to leave the EU because they do not or no longer fulfil the conditions for entry and/or stay. According to the Directive, Member States must provide for an effective forced-return monitoring system.
Report / Paper / Summary
Irregular migration, return and immigration detention
Asylum, migration and borders
3
July
2020

Forced return monitoring systems - 2020 update

The EU Return Directive (2008/115/EC) in Article 8 (6) introduced an important fundamental rights safeguard for third-country nationals ordered to leave the EU because they do not or no longer fulfil the conditions for entry and/or stay. According to the directive, Member States must provide for an effective forced-return monitoring system.
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Access all monitoring updates
Report / Paper / Summary
Borders and information systems
Asylum, migration and borders
Support for human rights systems and defenders
Civil society
19
June
2020

June 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them

In 2019, the International Organization for Migration estimated that 1,866 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe to escape war or persecution or to pursue a better life. This is an average of five people per day. In recent years, a significant proportion of migrants in distress at sea have been rescued by civil society vessels deployed with a humanitarian mandate to reduce fatalities and bring rescued migrants to safety. Since 2018, however, authorities in some EU Member States started viewing civil society-deployed rescue vessels with hostility. As a reaction, national authorities initiated about 40 administrative and criminal proceedings against crew members or vessels, including seizing the latter. In some cases, rescue vessels were blocked in harbours due to flag issues or the inability to meet technical requirements.